6.19.2007

My Big Fat Summer Post

Summer's approaching (although it really doesn't feel like it here, especially since I still have to wear a light jacket in the morning and evening -- what's up wit dat?) so I thought I'd kickoff the season with a nice big, fat post featuring some vintage 1950's goodies of mine. When you think of summer, outdoor cooking and grilling barbeque first come to mind, right? Right! So here's some fun (and a few quirky) items that I've collected throughout the past couple of years. And honestly, I don't know how to grill. I just love to collect these things for the crazy drawings found inside 'em. Can you blame me? (Click on each to view larger.)

The following booklet was found glued to the inside of the August 1959 issue of Better Homes & Gardens magazine, as part of a series. Some nice illustrations attributed to an "M. Trinque":

Covered Barbeque Cooking: a booklet that came with the Weber Covered Barbeque Kettle. No date or illustrator given. I wasn't digging the cover too much here, but the cool lettering was what piqued my interest. Luckily, there were some pretty cool illustrations on each page, alternating from red to yellow. Here are a few of the better ones:

Suggestions for Outdoor Cooking, from Royal Chef Grills. No mention of copyright date or illustrator. Dad's the only one with a nose in this one piece. Mommy looks...strange. And yet...a knockout. They're outside in the woods but Mom still has high heels on:

And of course, this one's for all you vegetarians out there (there's plenty here in Portland). Mmmm...umm! Enjoy!

Next is: Outdoor Chef, a cookbook for grilling outdoors, copyright 1958. No illustrator credit given. A very peculiar cookbook because of the wooden cover, front and back. Probably a nice touch for the outdoorsman, I'm assuming. Also, a better chance of the cookbook not getting burned so easily if just a regular paper cover? Who knows. It's hinged on the front there, with leather binding. Nice. And cool spot illustrations to boot:

The following are two metal presentation trays from the 50's, each consisting of the same illustrations, just rearranged differently. This was obviously a set (I've seen other items with the exact same illos). If I was your average, everyday obsessive collector, I'd probably have the entire set by now. But I have a life, you see. (Modeled with grace and style by everyone's favorite hula girl.)

And now, I'm happy to end this massive summer outdoor cooking barbeque post with....The Grillette! A magnificent mini grill complete with briquettes and charcoal lighter fluid, all neatly packed up tight and ready for on-the-go outdoor grilling. Perfect for that "I haven't got the time or money for a big grill" husband who prefers to cook his choice steak on miniature grilling stands. A pretty nifty idea, probably best used in impromptu camping situations I'm guessing. Anyway, this sweet little doo-dad set me back a mere $10. Nice. It's now a part of my office decor. Behold:

Look, it's handy:

Check it out -- when you pull off the cardboard cover, it looks like this:

Then, presto! Instant grilling!

Here's what you get:

To see more of The Grillette and more illustrations from the various cookbooks mentioned above, be sure to check out my Vintage Outdoor Cooking Flickr set. Fresh! Hot off the grill!

17 comments:

Wow, love those grillustrations! For a second there I thought you had something like Kramer's coffeetable book. In glancing quickly through the images I thought you had a book on grilling that folded out into a grill. Now that would be something!

The ironic thing is that I just took a whole pile of old cookbooks to Goodwill yesterday. They didn't have such great illustrations, mostly just sickening photos. Though there was one on grilling that had a great pattern on the inside covers. I thought about scanning it before I took it, but alas I didn't.

wow!! thanks sooo much for the inspiration...these are awesome!! why can't they do this anymore...why not have a well desinged cook book with awesome illustrations in 'em? sigh...still workin out the platform details...work is getting a bit hecktic..but we'll see...

You have no idea how much of a trip down memory lane this was! We had cleaned out my grandparents basement once and found a whole bunch of stuff like this but I have no idea where all of it went. Somethings you should hold on to! lol

Great post, Mr. O-Matic! I've been looking forward to it since you mentioned you'd be doing a big summer post... but Wow... awesome job -- thanks for all your hard work!

What a shame that so many of these fab 50's cartoon artists will probably never be identified :-(

I have a sneekin' suspicion a lot of them worked in the Chicago art market - where packaging and design was the main course being served up sizzlin' hot off the grill.

The illos in the stunning wood-ensconced "Outdoor Chef" remind me a little of this ad ... the head shapes and little pointy noses especially. That ad is signed "Frayne" but alas, that's all I can tell you.

Those illustrations from Better Homes & Gardens were a HUGE influence on me. Okay, not the high heels at the picnic, but that style is so...comfy. Like an old couch. An old couch that still smells good, though.

Now you're starting to scare me. I have the same Big Boy BBQ book along with a host of other 'eye-watering' cookbooks! The cover kills. With all of the meat on the grill, it kind of makes you wonder where mommy is!